William john tanner



(No Model.)

W. J. TANNER. FOLDING PEDAL FOR CYCLES.

No. 599,978. Patented Mar. 1, 1898.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM JOHN TANNER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

FOLDING PEDAL FOR CYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,978, dated March 1, 1898.

Application filed July 16, 1897. Serial No. 644,809.. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that IJVILLIAM JOHN TANNER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at London, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Pedals for Cycles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in folding pedals for cycles, whereby the same can be readily turned to lie parallel with or against the cranks, so as to economize space in'housing the machine or when the same is to be stored or packed for transit.

For the purposes of my invention each pedal, with its pin, is carried by a knuckle or block which is movably connected to the free end of its corresponding crank, and into such end I provide a bolt, catch, or the like for automatically locking the pedal in its folded or unfolded position. A convenient arrangement consists in securing each of the pedalpins to the knuckle or block and pivoting said knuckle into its corresponding crank, the free end of which is forked to receive it, the arrangement being such as to allow the knuckle to be turned at a right angle to the crank and so bring the pedals parallel with their respective cranks. The knuckle orblock is formed with a shank having a recess or notch into which the bolt, catch, or the like engages in order to lock the knuckle and so retain the pedal firmly in the operative position. Means are provided to enable the bolt to be withdrawn from the recess or notch when it is required to fold the pedal, and, if desired, a second notch or recess'may be formed also in the shank of the knuckle, into which said bolt can engage to retain the pedal when folded and prevent it falling down.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing the pedal folded against the crank, Fig. 2, a view showing it unfolded and secured in its operative position, and Fig. 3, a view of the same drawn at right angles to Fig. 2 and partly broken away to clearly show the locking-bolt and the means for retiring the same. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section, sh owing the parts locked in their operative position. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line as a; of Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a detached view of the pivoted knuckle or block.

In carrying out my invention I form the free end of-the crank a as a fork or bifurcation (1' to receive the knuckle 19, carrying the pedal-pin and its pedal. This knuckle is provided with a shank 1), (formed at right angles-to the pedal-pin,) which fits into the forked end a of the crank. A pivot-pin b secures the knuckle and crank together and enables the former to be turned, as shown in Fig. 1. The shank b has a notch or recess 29 in its uppermost end to receive the locking-bolt, and may be cut away atan angle, as shown, at b to abut against the correspondingly-shaped part a of the forked crank.

c is the locking-bolt. It works in a guidehole a in the crank and is caused to engage in the recess or notch 19 under the action of a coiled spring at, and to thus keep the pedal in its normal or operative position when the machine is in use. Through the upper part of the locking-bolt passes a cross-pin e, by means of which such bolt can be withdrawn from the notch or recess 6 and said pin is adapted to slide in slots a formed in the crank. To prevent grit or dirt entering these slots a, cover-plates f are provided and are secured to the ends of the pin 6. They have their upper ends bent to form catches f for manipulating the locking-bolt c,and so releasing the knuckle b, when it is required to fold the pedal. The tight fit of the parts, together with the pressure of the locking-bolt on the knuckle, is considered sufficient to prevent the folded pedal from falling down; but, if desired, a second notch may be provided in the shank b, so that the bolt 0 shall slip into it and so look it.

To fold the pedal, it is only necessary to lift the locking-bolt, by means of the catches f, out of engagement with the knuckle and then by means of the pedal turn the knuckle into a position at a right angle to'the crank, so causing the pedal to lie parallel with the said crank.

It is obvious that instead of the arrangement hereinabove described the knuckle or block b may be forked, the end of the crank made to fit into it, and the bolt or catch arranged to retain the parts in position.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the crank and the pedal, of a pedal-pin receiving and supporting the pedal, and a knuckle at the inner end of the pedal-pin and extending out at one side thereof, and a joint connecting the knuckle to the crank, whereby the pedal and its pin can be turned up parallel with and outside of the crank, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the crank and the pedal, of a pedal-pin receiving and supporting the pedal, and a knuckle at the inner end of the pedal-pin and extending out at one side thereof, and a joint connecting the knuckle to the crank, whereby the pedal and its pin can be turned up parallel with and outside of the crank, and a locking-bolt within the crank acting to hold the knuckle when the pedal is in use, and a plate upon the crank for moving the locking-bolt, substantially as set forth.

witnesses.

WILLIAM JOHN TANNER.

WVitnesses:

GEORGE ERNEST MINTERN, J osEPH LAKE. 

